Practical standardization in renal biopsy reporting

Background : To standardize renal biopsy reporting and diagnosis, The Renal Pathology Study Group of the Korean Society of Pathologists (RPSKSP) has developed a renal pathology reporting format for the native and allograft kidney. Methods : A consensus checklist of a provisional renal biopsy format was sent to all members of the RPSKSP. Feed back opinions regarding the practical application of the checklist to the diagnostic work were received. Results : Kidney biopsies require three essential examinations: by light microscopy, immunofluorescence (IF), and electron microscopy (EM). A final report of a renal biopsy should include information on specimen adequacy and a description of the morphologic change using a systematic semiquantitative method for each of the compartments, with optional separate IF and EM reports. Conclusions : A standard renal biopsy report format is important in establishing clinicopathologic correlations, making reliable prognostic considerations, comparing the findings in sequential biopsies and evaluating the effects of therapy. This renal report system could encourage nationwide multi-institutional collaborative studies.